Formation

See also Help:Battle Formations

A Marshal has the option to set (through the Command menu) a battle formation to use.

When either the Vice-Marshal or Marshal participate in a battle the army's troops will be deployed according to the selected formation. If multiple allied armies (and their respective staff) participate in a battle, then each army will follow the formation set by their Marshal. Therefore it's important for allied armies to agree beforehand on a common formation to use.

The availability of some advanced formations depends on the leadership skill of the battle commander. Peasant militia units often do not follow the formation settings, because they are too disorganized.

Offensive Formations

Infantry Charge

One of the three basic formations that all Marshals (regardless of their Leadership score) know. As a general rule of thumb, if you have an infantry-heavy army you might wish to use this formation.

Infantry units deployed up front, archers behind them and cavalry in the back so they can charge into the melee.

RearGuard	Back	Middle	Front	Enemy >
	Cavalry	Archers	Infantry

Archer Opening

Another basic formation. The Archers are in the front row, the infantry right behind them, with the cavalry further back. The idea is that the archers will likely get one shot in at point blank range before they meet the enemy's front line. But with their Infantry right behind them, also moving forward, it tends to cause most of your army to hit the enemy's front line at the same time, with the Cavalry hitting in the next turn (or at the same time if your enemy doesn't have a font line).

RearGuard	Back	Middle	Front	Enemy >
Cavalry		Infantry	Archers

Cavalry Charge

The last of the basic offensive formations. In this formation, cavalry units are deployed up front to open up the battle with their powerful charge, with infantry following up to finish the job. Archers are deployed further back to offer support fire.

Waves

An intermediate formation, only available to Marshals with sufficient Leadership. Sets your attacking force up in mixed waves of roughly equal strength. This strategy can be very successful against an enemy who has his units strictly concentrated on single combat lines.

Soften and Charge

Another intermediate formation, only available to Marshals with sufficient Leadership.A more complicated strategy that begins with an archer opening, followed by a cavalry charge, all to soften up the enemy before the infantry mops them up. If you have many archers and some cavalry against a mostly infantry opponent, this formation can break them up before the real battle even begins.

Careful Attack

A fairly complicated setup, where infantry charges in waves while archers hold their ground and support them. Cavalry adds to the melee, charging from the back. Only useful for a well-mixed army.

This is an advanced formation that changes the units' formation settings.

Weakening Skirmish

An attack in waves where units charge in groups to deal maximum damage, then withdraw quickly to preserve their strength. Good to soften up the enemy prior to a main attack on the next turn.

This is an advanced formation that changes the units' formation settings and withdraw limits.

Defensive Formations

Infantry Wall

A basic formation, available to all Marshals.

Fortification Defense

Another basic formation, available to all Marshals.

< Enemy	Front	Middle	Back	Rearguard
	Infantry Archers		Cavalry

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